Human Factors in the Vineyard Flashcards
Three defining characteristics of sustainable agriculture?
(1) Use of man-made chemicals is not prohibited, but it is restricted
(2) Growers develop an in-depth understanding of pest life-cycles and weather forecasts, to predict and prevent a pest or disease outbreak by timing the sprays to achieve the greatest impact
(3) Biodiversity important: provides habitats for predators of pests, captures CO2 and provides nutrients for vines
Difference between organic and sustainable agriculture?
Only a very limited number of the more traditional treatments against pests and diseases is allowed and only in very small quantities
What is a universal requirement for all organic certifications?
The vineyard must undergo a period of conversion working to organic standards before it can be certified.
Three defining characteristics of biodynamic agriculture?
(1) The vineyard soil is seen as part of a connected system with the planet Earth, the air and other planets.
(2) Practitioners adapt their grape growing practices to coincide with the cycles of the planets, moon and stars. (3) Homeopathic remedies called ‘preparations’ are used to fertilise the soil, treat diseases and ward off pests.
What are three factors a grape grower must consider when deciding harvest timing?
(1) The fruit’s balance between sugar, acid, flavour and tannin
(2) Weather (hail, rain etc)
(3) Coordinating arrival of fruit at the winery to make sure it has capacity to process the fruit
Fourdisadvantages of machine harvesting?
(1) Not selective (may collect unripe or unhealthy grapes or MOG)
(2) Cannot collect whole bunches, since machine harvesting involves shaking the vine and collecting the berries as they fall off
(3) Not suitable for steep slopes
(4) Not suitable for grapes that are easily damaged (e.g. thin-skinned)
Two advantages of machine harvesting?
(1) Speed (important for bad weather or grapes that easily overripen)
(2) Can work at night, allowing grapes to be harvested when it is cool: (i) no need to lower grape temperature before fermentation (impt for warm climates) and (ii) slows down oxidation process
When does the first yield come in after new vines are planted?
Third year after planting
Five reasons you might hand-harvest?
(1) Grape selection is needed (e.g. botrytis or unevenly ripening grape varieties)
(2) Grapes are fragile (e.g. thin skins)
(3) Steep vineyard slopes (Duoro; Mosel; Rhone)
(4) Whole bunches needed (Champagne; semi-carbonic)
(5) AC laws require it
How long must land be left fallow before re-planting?
Three years so the land can recover. Alternative is to do field-grafting, where new varieties are grafted onto existing rootstock, allowing grape growers to change the variety produced without having to uproot existing vines and incurring the associated downtime.
Define “vine training”
Moulding the shape of the vine’s permanet wood
What is the defining characteristic of cordon-trained vines? How are they pruned?
Trunk with one or more permanent horizontal arms or “cordons”
Usually spur-pruned
What is the defining characteristic of head-trained vines and how are they pruned?
Relatively little permanent wood
Only a few short arms at the top of the trunk (“head”)
Can be spur or replacement cane pruned
Define pruning. What is the objective?
Removal of unwanted leaves, canes and permanent wood, to shape the vine and limit its size.
The objective of pruning is to determine number and location of the buds that will form shoots in the coming growing season, ensuring that the buds are not too close together
What are two key considerations with respect to cordon training?
- Takes longer to establish due to the greater amount of permanent wood
- Makes mechanization easier: sturdy permanent cordon with shoots positioned along its length
Define winter pruning
Removal of unwanted permanent wood, to shape the vine and limit its size
What is spur-pruning (3 points)?
Cutting down: (i) short sections of one-year old wood (ii) to only 2-3 buds (iii) that are distributed along the length of the vine (for cordon) or at the top of the trunk (for head training)
What is replacement cane pruning (3 points)?
(i) Cutting down the permanent wood, typically retaining only 1-2 canes (ii) which are long sections of one-year-old wood with anything between 8-20 buds and (iii) tying each cane horizontally to the trellis for support
What is a bush vine? What three vineyard management techniques would you expect to see with bush vines?
(1) Untrellised
(2) Head trained
(3) Spur pruned
What is the main disadvantage of bush vines in cooler and wetter regions? How is this risk managed in Beaujolais?
The shade can impede grape ripening and the lack of airflow can promote disease.
In Beaujolais, the shoots of head-trained, spur-pruned vines are tied together at the tips, which helps expose bunches to air and sunlight.
Define a trellis. How are vines fastened to the trellis?
Permanent structures of stakes and wires that are used to support any replacement canes and the vine’s annual growth. The vine’s canes and shoots are tied to the trellis.
Define VSP (3 points).
Vertical Shoot Positioning:
(1) Train shoots vertically
(2) Tie them into place on the trellis to form a single narrow canopy
(2) Keeping shoots apart to keep canopy open, well-aerated and shade-free
What are three reasons growers choose to trellis their vineyards? (SAM)
-
Sunlight: arrangement of young shoots controls the amount of Sunlight that gets into the canopy (either open canopy to increase sun exposure, or shaded canopy to reduce sunburn)
2.** Air circulation**: important in wet climates as damp stagnant air promotes fungal diseases - Mechanisation: positioning the grapes and leaves in different areas of the vines, simplifying mechanical harvesting and the spraying of insectisides or fungicides
What does “vine density” refer to?
Number of vines planted in a given area (usually, per hectare—area enclosed by a square with 100-metre sides—or an acre, which is 0.4 hectares)